Meet the Researchers
Research in Saint Louis University’s School of Science and Engineering drives innovation across the fields of engineering, aviation, computer science, chemistry, and environmental and geospatial science. Our faculty and students work at the cutting edge of discovery — designing next generation technologies, developing sustainable solutions, and pushing the boundaries of the fundamental principles that shape our world.
Meet a few of the researchers at SLU's School of Science and Engineering and learn more about their accomplishments.
Flavio Esposito, Ph.D.
Flavio Esposito, Ph.D., associate professor of computer science, was awarded a three-year National Science Foundation (NSF) award for $900,000 for his project titled “CICI: IPAAI: REPAIRT: Securing xApps in Open RANs with Reliable and Principled AI Red-Teaming.”
This project couples the programmable wireless infrastructure of Saint Louis University and Northeastern University with new algorithms for systematic "red teaming" of AI algorithms in Open-Radio Access Networks (O-RAN). The project will develop algorithms to flag adversarial AI behavior both before and after deployment, and will introduce techniques that remove poisoned data and logic without costly retraining.
Alexei Demchenko, Ph.D.
Alexei Demchenko, Ph.D., professor and department chair of chemistry, was named a 2025 American Chemical Society (ACS) fellow. ACS fellows are “ACS members who have shown outstanding achievements in and contributions to science, the chemistry profession, and the society.” Demchenko is recognized for the following:
Contribution to the Science/Profession: For the development of new methods for stereoselective glycosylation and automated technologies for glycan synthesis as well as for distinguished accomplishments in teaching and development of chemistry curricula.
Contribution to the ACS Community: For exemplary leadership within ACS CARB division and the U.S. Advisory Committee for the International Carbohydrate Symposia.
Scott Martin, Ph.D.
Scott Martin, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and associate dean for strategic initiatives, was awarded a five-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) RO1 award for approximately $530,000 for his project titled “An Enhanced Neurovascular Model with Scanning Conductance Imaging of Cell Junctions to Determine the Role of Matrix Metalloproteases in Multiple Sclerosis.” This project, with collaborators at Michigan State and Texas A&M, involves the development of a microfluidic-based enhanced model of the neurovascular unit that will be interrogated with scanning conductance imaging to determine mechanisms contributing to multiple sclerosis onset.